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==Legendary origin==
==Legendary origin==
According to legend, it is the site of the first Christian church building in [[Friesland]] built in 777 AD by Gustavus Forteman the father of the legendary [[Magnus Forteman]] who both lived nearby.<ref name="steenstra">{{cite book|last1=Steenstra|first1=H. W.|title=Oudheidkundige aanteekeningen van de dorpen en kloosters der Grietenij Barradeel, tevens bevattende een naamlijst van de Hervormde predikanten dier dorpen, sedert de Hervorming tot nu toe|date=1836|publisher=G. Ypma|pages=58-62|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=bHthAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA58|language=nl}}</ref> The church building was originally a thatched wooden structure. It was dedicated to the [[archangel]] [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]].<ref name="steenstra"/> The wooden church was 10 × 20 in size. It burned down twice and was rebuilt.
According to legend, it is the site of the first Christian church building in [[Friesland]] built in 777 AD by Gustavus Forteman the father of the legendary [[Magnus Forteman]] who both lived nearby.<ref name="steenstra">{{cite book|last1=Steenstra|first1=H. W.|title=Oudheidkundige aanteekeningen van de dorpen en kloosters der Grietenij Barradeel, tevens bevattende een naamlijst van de Hervormde predikanten dier dorpen, sedert de Hervorming tot nu toe|date=1836|publisher=G. Ypma|pages=58-62|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=bHthAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA58|language=nl}}</ref> The church building was originally a thatched wooden structure. It was dedicated to the [[archangel]] [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]].<ref name="steenstra"/> The wooden church was 10.25 × 22.5 meters in size. It burned down twice and was rebuilt.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Services|first1=WebBuro Internet|title=de bloeiperiode van in een Friese havenstad|url=https://www.driesprong.net/files/Plaatsen en steden/Harlingen/Stadswandeling Harlingen.pdf|website=www.driesprong.net|date=2010}}</ref>


A legend says that a miraculous red banner called '''Magnusvaan''' was included in the walls of the St. Michaëlsdom church. This flag, according to legend, belonged to [[Friso]] the founder of the [[Frisian people]]. It had miraculous powers to avert lightning and storms, to repel evil spirits, and make one invincible. After Friso's death he was buried with the flag and no one knew of it. [[Willibrord]] the apostle to the Frisians, had a dream where an angel pointed out the spot where the red flag lay buried. The bishop Willibrord excavated it and gave it to Magnus Forteman. The flag was used when Magnus conquered Rome. After this it was hidden again in the wall of the church at Almenum.<ref name="steenstra"/> The Saxons searched for it and could not find it, and legend has it that no one will be able to find it.
A legend says that a miraculous red banner called '''Magnusvaan''' was included in the walls of the St. Michaëlsdom church. This flag, according to legend, belonged to [[Friso]] the founder of the [[Frisian people]]. It had miraculous powers to avert lightning and storms, to repel evil spirits, and make one invincible. After Friso's death he was buried with the flag and no one knew of it. [[Willibrord]] the apostle to the Frisians, had a dream where an angel pointed out the spot where the red flag lay buried. The bishop Willibrord excavated it and gave it to Magnus Forteman. The flag was used when Magnus conquered Rome. After this it was hidden again in the wall of the church at Almenum.<ref name="steenstra"/> The Saxons searched for it and could not find it, and legend has it that no one will be able to find it.

Revision as of 12:47, 16 February 2017

Almenum
Village
This map labels the church with an A in the graveyard and the legend says "Den Dom van Almenum mit de Kerck"
The Cathedral of Almenum drawn on a map of Harlingen 1664
Location of Almenum
Coordinates: 53°11′N 5°26′E / 53.183°N 5.433°E / 53.183; 5.433 (Almenum)
CountryNetherlands Netherlands
ProvinceFriesland Friesland
gemeenteHarlingen
Population
 • Totalc. 0

Almenum is a historic locality in the northern Netherlands, near Midlum, Friesland the site of the first Christian church in Friesland.[1] Saint Boniface set up a local church in the locality in 754.[2] The location of the church is on the Terp of Almenum, a small mound.[3] Almenum is named after the place where someone caled "Allaman" lived.[4] The -um suffix is derived from the West Frisian word "hiem" meaning "home".[5]

Legendary origin

According to legend, it is the site of the first Christian church building in Friesland built in 777 AD by Gustavus Forteman the father of the legendary Magnus Forteman who both lived nearby.[6] The church building was originally a thatched wooden structure. It was dedicated to the archangel Michael.[6] The wooden church was 10.25 × 22.5 meters in size. It burned down twice and was rebuilt.[7]

A legend says that a miraculous red banner called Magnusvaan was included in the walls of the St. Michaëlsdom church. This flag, according to legend, belonged to Friso the founder of the Frisian people. It had miraculous powers to avert lightning and storms, to repel evil spirits, and make one invincible. After Friso's death he was buried with the flag and no one knew of it. Willibrord the apostle to the Frisians, had a dream where an angel pointed out the spot where the red flag lay buried. The bishop Willibrord excavated it and gave it to Magnus Forteman. The flag was used when Magnus conquered Rome. After this it was hidden again in the wall of the church at Almenum.[6] The Saxons searched for it and could not find it, and legend has it that no one will be able to find it.

Jancko Douwama recorded this legend, but also named Oldeboorn or Ferwoude as possible locations. Ferwoude adopted a red background for its own flag in honour of this legendary flag.[8]

Another story called Magnuskeren says that Magnus Forteman received a charter from Pope Leo III and emperor Charles recording seven keren, Seventeen Statutes, Twenty Four Landlaws (Landrechten Keuren) and 36 Synod Laws. He hung this charter in the St. Michael's church. The reason this church was chosen, was because there were very few churches in Frisia at the time.[9]

Medieval history

In 1157 Eilwardus Ludinga founded a monastery called Ludingakerke.[10] The monks of the monastery dug canals from Almenum to an already existing channel past Vlieland and Texel to provide access to trading vessels.[10] (In these times the coast was in a completely different spot, and the Marne and Vlie may have provided part of the route.) Ludingakerk became one of the richest monasteries in Friesland. The area west of Almenum, became more important and turned into the city of Harlingen. In the 13th century the wooden building was replaced by a stone church with a hall with twin aisles.

When Almenum was established, it was nowhere near the sea. The major nearby watercourse was the Vlie, connecting the lake Almere to the North Sea
By 1649 the Cathedral of Almenum is enclosed in the Harlingen city walls, seen in the clear patch in the southeast of the city.

In 1234 AD Harlingen was founded near to the west of Almenum.[11]

On 14 December 1287, the devastating St. Lucia's flood permanently altered the landscape creating the Zuiderzee and bringing the Wadden Sea coast to Harlingen, and thereby giving it the opportunity to become a seaport. Nearby villages Berdingadorp, Medumwart, Dikesherna and parts of the Gerbranda estate lands were lost due to sea encroachment. The church at Berdingadorp was merged with the church at Almenum.[12]

Schelte Roorda beat Douwe Edes Gerbranda to death in 1453 in Bolsward, and sought sanctuary in the Almenum church. However he was slaguterd in a revenge killing by Herring of Woldens and Bonne Bonninga.[12] Ede Douwez Gerbranda belonged to the Vetkopers

At a later point, perhaps somewhere between 1200 and 1500, an inscription in the St. Michael's church stated that the bones of Magnus of Anagni, Martyr and Bishop were transported from Fondi to the church at the time of a Saracen invasion in Italy. The inscription was certainly real, but the story it gave, may not be.[9]

Loss of identity

Philip II of Spain granted Harlingen permission to include Almenum within its border in 1563. This caused a dispute with Barradeel which also claimed the hamlet. The city of Harlingen expanded, and by 1597 the Cathedral of Almenum was within the city walls. The church at that time was the reformed church for residents of Harlingen.[13] This was only resolved in 1684 when Henry Casimir II, Prince of Nassau-Dietz decided that it belonged to Harlingen.

The church contained a tomb of D. Georgius of Espelbach, grietman of Barradeel, and mayor of Harlingen who died 19 March 1575 at the age of 63.[14]

The St. Michaëlsdom church was demolished after this and replaced by a new Grote Kerk in 1775 which stands till this day.[15]

At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were two brickworks in Almenum. The area was suitable because it was near a seaport where bricks were needed as ballast in ships.[16] Using the name nowadays there is a home for the elderly called Almenum across the other side of the van Harinxmakanaal,[17] and a hotel in nearby Harlingen.[18]

References

  1. ^ STEENSTRA, H. W. Oudheidkundige aanteekeningen van de dorpen en kloosters der Grietenij Barradeel, etc (in Dutch).
  2. ^ Beschrijving der Nederlanden (in Dutch). Laarman. 1841. p. 338.
  3. ^ "Grote Kerk - Open Monumentendag". www.openmonumentendag.nl. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  4. ^ "HISGIS information panel for Almenum (N) (Terpnamen fryslan)".
  5. ^ Sieswerda, D.; Sieswerda, J. J. (4 April 2015). "Tot 500 A.D." Geschiedenis van Pingjum: van 0 tot heden (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Steenstra, H. W. (1836). Oudheidkundige aanteekeningen van de dorpen en kloosters der Grietenij Barradeel, tevens bevattende een naamlijst van de Hervormde predikanten dier dorpen, sedert de Hervorming tot nu toe (in Dutch). G. Ypma. pp. 58–62.
  7. ^ Services, WebBuro Internet (2010). en steden/Harlingen/Stadswandeling Harlingen.pdf "de bloeiperiode van in een Friese havenstad" (PDF). www.driesprong.net. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  8. ^ Jancko Douwama's Geschriften, Boeck der Partijen p. 50 and 51, in Werken uitgegeven door het Friesch Genootschap van Geschied- Oudheid- en Taalkunde, Leeuwarden, 1849. digital version: [1] p. 126 and 127
  9. ^ a b Campbell, A. Thet Freske Riim Tractatus Alvini. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 14–16. ISBN 9789401571562.
  10. ^ a b Schouten, P.; de Groot, J.; Warnars, G.; Lucthmans, S. (1785). Tegenwoordige staat de Vereenigde Nederlanden ...: Friesland. 2. deel (in Dutch). p. 398-399.
  11. ^ Friesche volks-almanak voor het jaar ... (in Dutch). bij L. Schierbeek. 1850. p. 68.
  12. ^ a b "Almenum". HISGIS. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  13. ^ Spaans, Joke. Armenzorg in Friesland 1500-1800: publieke zorg en particuliere liefdadigheid in zes Freise steden Leeuwarden, Bolsward, Franeker, Sneek, Dokkum en Harlingen (in Dutch). Uitgeverij Verloren. p. 212. ISBN 9065505741.
  14. ^ Schouten, P.; de Groot, J.; Warnars, G.; Luchtams, S.; Luchtams, J.; Blusse, A.; Blusse, P.; van der Plaats, V. (1787). Tegenwoordige Staat der Vereenigde Nederlanden (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Isaak Tirion. pp. 576–577. After the faithful who wished to work under Invictissimo Imp. Charles 5, ас Most Potent King of Spain, Philip 2. His son, the various wars in Germany, Hungary, Gaul was done, he was appointed captain Harlinganus and Grietmannus in Barradeel, Felicitas D. died in 1575. March 29. Age of 63 has been achieved
  15. ^ "Welkom bij de Grote Kerk van Harlingen!". www.grotekerkharlingen.nl (in Dutch).
  16. ^ Otten, Jeanine. "Achttiende-eeuwse baksteen is de laatste aanwinst van het Hannemahuis van 2013" (PDF). p. 3. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  17. ^ "Almenum De Bouwvereniging Harlingen". www.debouwvereniging.nl.
  18. ^ "Hotel Almenum, Harlingen - Heart of the Wadden Isles". www.hotelalmenum.nl. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
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